By Tracey Scott
Special To Ropers Sports News
BISHOP, CA – CHSRA once again just completed its High School State Finals in Bishop Ca., June 10-17. There were 297 contestants, 450 horses and hundreds of supportive family members in attendance. The week’s events included the scholarship golf tournament, queen contest, shooting contest, contestant games and competition and endless outdoor activities for all. There were some disappointed river floaters as the local authorities urged all to stay away from the Owens River due to record snowfall and water levels but that did not seem to put much of a damper on things. Many families went to the mountains and social media had plenty of “snow in June” picture posts.
So many people and sponsors make this rodeo a success. The CHSRA board is thankful to all the many volunteers and parents who worked in and out of the arena all week. CHSRA Scholarship Committee awarded over $37,000 in scholarships on Thursday, senior tribute night. Thursday was also Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night and CHSRA collected donations and the gate proceeds and matched the funds to present a donation of over $2,000.
The week always starts with the shooting competitions, both a light rifle and shotgun, with a record number of 90 entries. There was a donated Browning Rifle raffle to benefit scholarships thanks to Jerry King, Owner of Fortuna Ace Hardware, Fortuna. Cutting started earlier than usual on Monday and Reined Cow Horse, held on site for the second year, also started on Monday.
It was a week of great weather, great competition and lots of fun. The Youth Advisory board created the “Kings Challenge” which included a volleyball tournament and day of games to determine the CHSRA king. District 1 Levy Gray was the winner and received a buckle. By the end of the week things were heating up in Bishop and in the arena with some really tough competition.
So as it always goes, a new queen was crowned and a National team was determined and many memories were made. It is most important that we mention the sponsors who make it all possible: Cactus Ropes; Cactus Saddlery; Cactus Gear; Resistol Hats; Heel-O-Matic; Les Schwab Tires; Platinum Performance; Professional’s Choice; Boot Barn; Zack Ranch; Ropers Sports News, Rowdy Rose; Black Widow Drags; and Hesston Rodeo.
All Around Cowgirl: Andee Poole, D6. Reserve All Around Cowgirl: Madison Camozzi, D4. All Around Cowboy: Lefty Holman, D6. Reserve All Around Cowboy: Wyatt Hansen, D5. Rookie All Around Cowgirl: Madison Camozzi, D4. Rookie All Around Cowboy: Chance Leatherman, D7. Miss CHSRA 2017-18: Cailee Rope D8.
TIE DOWN ROPING: 1. Lefty Holman, D6. 2. Quentin Anseth, D3, 3. Cole Dodds, D5. 4. Lane Wheeler, D5. STEER WRESTLING: 1. Taite Stickler, D7. 2. Tucker Allen, D7. 3. Brandon Green, D3. 4. Bryor Minton, D1. BAREBack: 1. Jonathan Siller, D3. 2. Cauy Pool, D1. 3. Chase Rose, D3. 4. Tristan Naccarato, D4. SADDLE BRONC: 1. Lefty Holman, D6. 2. Caden Griesdale, D6. 3. Karson Mebane, D6. 4. Karson Mebane, D6. BULL RIDING: 1. TJ Gray, D1. 2. Levi Gray, D1. 3. Ray Mayo, D2. 4. Chance Strong, D6. BOYS CUTTING: 1. Jason Anderson, D1. 2. Riley Bishop, D4. 3. Taite Stickler, D7. 4. Lefty Holman, D6. TEAM ROPING: 1. Wilson Redfearin and Karson Mebane, D6. 2. Austin Lopez and Avery Lopez, D8. 3. Layton Oswald and Wyatt Hansen, D5. 4. Rylee George and Lane Wheeler, BARREL RACING: 1. Madison Baute, D9. 2. Kelsey Cadwell, D5. 3. Payton Bladow, D8. Hailey Finnegan, D2. BREAKAWAY ROPING: 1. Kelly DeVoli, D9. 2. Cori Burdett, D8. 3. Payton Schoeppach, D3. 4. Mackenzie Parker, D8. POLE BENDING: 1. Madison Camozzi, D4. 2. Kathryn Varian, D7. 3. Allison Inderbieten, D9. 4. Makenna Barchelder, D9. goat tying: 1. Andee Poole, D6. 2. Lacey Geiger, D9. 3. Masey Minton, D1. 4. Hannah Steagall, D6. GIRLS CUTTING: 1. Taylor Stroh, D6. 2. Breann Justice, D6. 3. Mia Marchini, D9. 4. Payton Scalzo, D8. reining cow horse: 1. Jacey Gorden, D1. 2. Addison Coutts, D8. 3. Lefty Holman, D6. 4. CJ Whitney, D6.
Fast time/high score over both long rounds winners were Jacey Gordan, RCH; Wyatt Hansen, Tie Down; Jason Anderson, Cutting; Cutter Machado and Chance Ruffoni, Team Roping; Hannah Steagall, Goats; and Maggie Usher, Poles.
Miss CHSRA Bailee Poole, Quintin McWhorter, Miss CHSRA D1 Gwen Johnson, and Miss CHSRA D5 Megan Sharp display the Browning Rifle that was donated to the raffle.
The CHSRA District queens present a check to representatives from the Eastern Sierra Cancer Alliance. – PhotoFast